If you think watching the Re-Invention Tour on both U.S. coasts was enough for Tony, and a huge load of different Madonna North American gigs can stop him, you don't know him well enough...
Here's the story of the best Summer and the best Madonna experience of his life.

  


September 2003. Barnes & Nobles. New York City.

Madonna casually tells MTV she is going to go on tour. That was all I needed to hear. For some reason, I totally believed her. After all the times she has said it over the past 10 years this time felt for real. She was NOT going to just let "American Life" end until she was on top. It was time to start saving up.

Fast forward to May 25th, Los Angeles.

This was the first show I was going to see and after reading about the setlist, I couldn't have been more excited.

Unfortunately I could not go to the opening night because I had my college graduation ceremony the same day... then I get to LA and hear how she cancelled the 2nd show.

My stomach was sick but I quickly learned it was re-scheduled for the 26th. I had a 4th row floor seat on the "Nothing Fails" side and managed to get a camera in.

I was speechless for 2 hours.

From the choreography in "Vogue" to the the video for "American Life' to the drama of "Lament" to the intimacy during "Nothing Fails" to the dancing in "Into the Groove" I was in awe.

It was SO different than the "Drowned World Tour" and brought back what I loved most about Madonna.

I had tickets for the 27th also but I vowed to go to as many concerts as possible.
It was everything I have wanted, hoped for and grown to expect from her.

So after 2 great L.A. shows, my next tickets were for Madison Square Garden... but I could not wait.

  
 

Last minute I got 3rd row floor seats ("Nothing Fails" side) for Washington DC on June 13th so my friend and I drove down. Sneaking my camera in once again and drunk off redbull and vodka, the show just got better. Madonna could not have interacted with me more.

I am a picture freak and love photography so I really wanted to get some good pictures.
At the beginning of the show, someone in the front row in a wheelchair got their camera taken away for taking one picture during "Vogue" which worried me. Once she came over during "Nobody Knows Me" I said "fuck it" and snapped as she was looking right in my lense.

This then happened every other time she came over to my side.
The security for some reason was letting me get away with it. Watching the recordings of this show you can see most all the moments and her laugh during the end of "Nothing Fails" because my friend and I were going crazy appaluding her. It was the best night and I wanted more.

 
 


Next I went to all 6 MSG shows sitting with different friends each night.

The best show for me was the 21st because I had 2nd row center floor seats and took total advantage of that since security does not care about cameras there.

Now it was time for Worcester.
This time I had 3rd row floor seats on the right side, and as cool as it was, it did not compare to being on the "Crazy For You" side.

Before I knew it 4th of July was upon us and there I was tailgating in Philadelphia.

I had 3rd row center floor seats and it was a blast (security there was a total buzz-kill). July 5th I had 13th row seats and was sitting alone so I really got to WATCH the show sober for the first time.

After leaving and driving home, I still wanted more.

Now it was time for my home state shows in Jersey. Yet again, here I am tailgating with friends. The 7th I was lucky to have pit tickets my friend got. It was an awesome night but I was not as into the pit as everyone else seemed to be.
 

Those security guys staring you down, banning of cameras, watching from behind alot ... I'd take floor seats anyday over it ... but for free, who's complaining.
July 8th about 5 of my friends and I had 1st row "loge" seats infront of the stage and it was yet another drunken, partying, screaming 2 hours.

 


At this point, that was my final show... but I still had that itch.
It wasn't even an issue, I had to go again.

So before you know it, I am in Chicago July 11th and 12th, 2rd row floor on the "Nothing Fails" side (same seats both nights).

These nights are unexplainable.
My friend caught the ITALIANS DO IT BETTER shirt the 1st night and the 2nd night was even crazier.

Since, once again, this was to be my "final show" we wanted to go out with a BANG.

I wore a shirt that said "MY LAST SHOW" since at this point it was just funny seeing her. She must think I am out of my mind but her contact with me was out of this world.

This time my friend and I had a little something up our sleeves for her. We had bought hairnets like she wears during the "acoustic" set to wear when she performed "Nothing Fails".

So as the lights went down after "Bedtime Story" we put them on and as she's rising she looks and begins to laugh.

We looked like total idiots but we were having so much fun and she sang almost all of the song to us.

Afterwards before "Don't Tell Me" she commented on us saying "We got a wild bunch over here".

I was in shock since she hardly EVER says anything out of context like that.

My tour felt complete.
What else could I POSSIBLY ask for?

  
 


As the weeks went by, I kept telling myself "OK Tony, enough is enough" but there was still that little feeling inside of me "OK, just ONE MORE" LOL.

To make a long story short, there I am in line for the VIP Floor seats in Lisbon, Portugal.

My friends and I decided that we came this far, we NEED to be part of the DVD.
So of course when we were let in we go to the "Nothing Fails" side and were '2nd row'.

We just looked at eachother.
We couldn't believe we pulled it off.

It was the most surreal moment of the show so far and she hadn't even come out yet.

Finally the show begins and once she comes over during "Nobody Knows Me" her eyes go right to me and I see this little laugh.

It was such a great moment of recognition.
Then to top things off, during "Nothing Fails" she posed and smiled for a picture for me.

It was insane and I just hope it comes out on DVD. The show was flawless and you could tell she was working her ass off for the official recording.

Finally, came September 14th and I had front row "balcony" seats (I could not do that general admission thing again) and the show came to an end.

8 cities, 18 shows, countless roles of film...
It was the best summer of my life and easily the best Madonna experience of my life.
Every penny was well spent and I would not do a single thing differently.

I cannot wait for the DVD, the documentary...
...and ofcourse, the next tour.